Family Of 2 Boys Who Died After Being Left In Car Want 'Justice'
LITTLETON, Colo. (CBS4) - It was a sad, somber night in Littleton at Progress Park Thursday as a vigil took place to remember two boys who died after being left in an SUV on the Western Slope.
William Jensen, 2, died in the vehicle, which was parked on a rural road near Powderhorn resort on Nov. 27, and his brother Tyler, 4, died at Children's Hospital earlier this week.
Their mother allegedly told investigators she left the boys in the SUV -- which was running -- for more than an hour while she met with a man.
Among those honoring the boys on Thursday night was Rodger Mathena, their uncle who lives in the area.
"They were very playful, normal, happy and always had a smile on their face," Mathena told CBS4. "They loved to play with their toys, very well mannered little boys, they were very loved."
Candles were lit by family members and friends, and the feeling Mathena expressed to CBS4 was shared by all who attended.
"Their time just came way too soon," he said.
Autopsy results on how the boys died have not come back yet, and authorities are being very tight lipped about the case, which they have only said is a death investigation and is being worked on by a large number of personnel.
Mathena is the brother of the boy's father. He said the vigil was also held partly to honor the memory of that brother, Eric, who was in a car accident in October.
"My brother died the month before, then all of a sudden his two children died the next month. Something just didn't feel right about it -- just disbelief," he said.
Mathena said family members are frustrated by how long it is taking the Mesa County Sheriff's office to provide updates.
"We just want answers, and justice at this point. None of us really know very much. Police aren't releasing much to us," he said.
Heather Jensen posted photos of the boys on her Facebook page hours after making the 911 call, saying "I miss my boys." She so far has not spoken publicly about what happened.
The Grand Junction Daily Sentinel reported that a Mesa County judge blocked plans for the cremation of the two boys this week. The boys' grandmother, Diane Mathena, wants Tyler and William buried next to their father in Palisade, while the mother wants them cremated.
CBS4 Legal Analyst Karen Steinhauser earlier this week explained why it might be taking authorities a while to move forward in the case.
"The police and the district attorneys are going to wait until they have all of the facts -- toxicology results from the autopsy, a full investigation of how these children died, who might have been the one who caused their death, and a determination as to who should be charged and what the appropriate charges are before they make that decision."
